Weddings of same-sex couples
St Mary’s Cathedral has been able to marry same-sex couples since 2017, following the vote in General Synod 2017 which allowed clergy in the Scottish Episcopal Church to be nominated to conduct such weddings.
As a same-sex couple, can we get married in St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow?
Yes – General Synod voted in June 2017 to allow clergy in the Scottish Episcopal clergy to be nominated to be able to conduct the marriages of same-sex couples. Not all Scottish Episcopal Church clergy will be nominated for this but there are such clergy at St Mary’s. Members of St Mary’s campaigned for this to be able to happen.
Can we exchange rings in church?
Yes – of course. It’s a wedding.
Can we make vows to one another in church?
Yes – of course. It’s a wedding.
Bells? Choir? Organ? Photographs?
Yes – of course, on the same terms as for any other wedding.
Can we get married in Scotland if we live in England?
Yes – of course, lots of couples do.
What order of service can we use?
We use the Scottish Liturgy (2007) which has a lot of options that allow each couple getting married to personalise the service so that it matches who they are and says what they want to say.
Could we have our Civil Partnership or our Marriage blessed in St Mary’s?
Yes – clergy in the Scottish Episcopal Church can bless a same-sex couple at the time of them registering a Civil Partnership or after entering into a marriage that has been conducted elsewhere.
So could we register a Civil Partnership in St Mary’s?
The Scottish Episcopal Church has not chosen to allow Civil Partnerships to be registered in its churches. If you want a Civil Partnership then you need to have that conducted by a registrar and it can’t take place in a Scottish Episcopal Church. You could come to church after a Civil Partnership and have a blessing if you wanted to.
How long have you been doing this kind of thing?
The first public same-sex blessing that we know about in St Mary’s was conducted in 2008. However, the clergy here have been supportive of gay couples for decades and it would be surprising if a blessing of some kind or another had not been offered before then. The Scottish Episcopal Church decided in June 2017 to allow same-sex couples to get married in church.
What does the rest of the church think about same-sex couples being married?
The Christian Churches have divided views about same-sex couples getting married as they do about lots of things.
Doesn’t the Bible have bad things to say about gay couples?
The Bible has a lot to say about a lot of things and the clergy and others in the congregation will be happy to chat more about how we understand the Bible in relation to same-sex couples. There is an LGBT network within the congregation. We believe that gay people and straight people are equally blessed and loved by God and that the Bible teaches us that this is so.
It is a gay church then?
St Mary’s is a church working to be open, inclusive and welcoming. We don’t think that God’s love is limited – straight people are loved by God just as much as gay and lesbian people are loved by God.
Who do I talk to about this?
Speak to a member of the clergy whom you can contact via the Cathedral Office.
Primates Meeting Communiqué 2017
The Primates of the Anglican Communion recently met in Canterbury. Rather than rely on media reports of what they said, here’s what they said in their own words.
The meeting of Anglican Primates, the senior bishops of the Anglican Provinces, took place in Canterbury between Monday 2 October and Friday 6 October at the invitation of the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.
We affirm that we believe our time together to have been a gift from God, through which we experienced many signs of God’s presence amongst us. The sense of common purpose underpinned by God’s love in Christ and expressed through mutual fellowship was profound.
Primates from 33 Provinces attended the meeting. Three Primates were absent because of a combination of personal circumstances and difficulties within their Provinces. Primates from Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda declined to attend citing what they believed to be a lack of good order within the Communion. We were saddened by their absence and expressed our hope and prayer that all will join us at future meetings.
We welcomed sixteen new Primates attending for the first time , including the Primate from the new Province of The Sudan. They received a briefing on the role of the meeting, within the Instruments of Communion, on the day before the main meeting.
The first morning was spent in prayer. The agreed agenda focussed on the Five Marks of Mission of the Communion, in particular the challenge of sharing the love, compassion and reconciliation of Jesus with those in need around the world. This followed initial consideration of the internal affairs of the Communion
Internal Affairs of the Communion
We welcomed the progress being made towards the 2020 Lambeth Conference (#LC2020) and encouraged all Provinces to seek to find ways to contribute towards the cost of their Bishops and spouses attending.
It was agreed that the Archbishop of Canterbury be invited to regional meetings of Primates and others during 2018 and 2019 so that the vision for the 2020 Lambeth Conference can be shared. The Archbishop of Canterbury will consider whether another full Primates’ Meeting will be held before the Lambeth Conference. We welcomed progress in implementing resolutions agreed by the Anglican Consultative Council in Lusaka in 2016; in particular the responsibility of all Provinces to ensure comprehensive safeguarding measures to protect children and vulnerable adults. The creation of the Anglican Safe Church Commission was welcomed and endorsed.
In our last meeting in January 2016 we made a clear decision to walk together while acknowledging the distance that exists in our relationships due to deep differences in understanding on same sex marriage. We endorsed this approach, which we will continue with renewed commitment.The Archbishops’ Task Group, established in 2016, gave an interim report on its work. This was warmly welcomed, particularly the recommendations around development of common liturgy, the principle and practice of pilgrimage and a season of prayer of repentance and reconciliation.
We listened carefully to the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) and with sadness accepted that the consequences for our relationships agreed in January 2016 would also apply to SEC after its decision on same sex marriage. This means that for three years, members of SEC would no longer represent the Communion on ecumenical and interfaith bodies; should not be appointed or elected to internal standing committees and that, while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they would not take part in decision making on any issues of doctrine or polity. The Archbishop of Canterbury will take steps within his authority to implement this agreement.
We agreed the importance of all Provinces contributing to the operational costs of supporting the communion, but according to each Province’s capacity and potential to contribute.
It was confirmed that the Anglican Church of North America is not a Province of the Anglican Communion. We recognised that those in ACNA should be treated with love as fellow Christians.
We discussed difficulties arising from cross-border interventions, agreeing that the principles were clearly stated from the Council of Nicaea onwards and in the 1998 Lambeth Conference. We recognised that there were opportunities for joint initiatives and mission partnerships for the benefit of the Gospel where these are agreed between Provinces. However consent was critical to any inter-provincial collaboration and it was essential that courtesy and love should be extended to Provinces at all times.
Attempts to deal with breaches of consent and courtesy should be made in regional Primates’ Meetings and only referred to the Secretary General and the Archbishop of Canterbury as a last resort. We recognised that persistent and deliberate non-consensual cross-border activity breaks trust and weakens our communion.
We recognised that there is a need for a season of repentance and renewal including where interventions may have happened without prior permission having being sought.
We reaffirmed commitments made in 2016 regarding the LGBTI community, specifically the Communion’s sorrow for previous failures to support LGBTI people and its condemnation of homophobic prejudice and violence.
We welcomed the news that the Church of England has embarked on a major study of human sexuality in its cultural, scientific, scriptural and theological aspects and anticipated considering the results of this work at a future meeting.
External Issues
For most of the meeting we focussed on external issues including evangelism and discipleship, reconciliation and peace building, climate change, food security, refugees, human trafficking and freedom of religion. On the final day the Anglican Inter Faith Commission was launched.
The world has never felt the need of a Saviour more keenly. We have shared stories of pain and loss, of natural disasters and tragedy, of violence and threat. However in this world we have joy, courage and hope because of the light of the Saviour of all, Jesus Christ. God has poured his love upon his whole Church by his Holy Spirit. The Church lives to proclaim this gospel in word and deed. We therefore commit ourselves afresh to lead those we serve in the joyful announcement of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We pledge to pray for the empowering of the Holy Spirit, that we may witness effectively to the good news. To this end between Ascension day and Pentecost in 2018 we call all those who are able, to join us in praying ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ – that the Holy Spirit may empower the announcement of the Gospel so that many may believe.
We recognised that at least half of the Provinces in the Communion had areas with food security issues. Whilst developing nations suffered more, there were pockets of food insecurity elsewhere, for example, reliance on food banks for many in the British Isles.
As at previous meetings, we were deeply concerned to hear accounts of the severe impact of climate change, including the threat of rising seas to many islands and low-lying lands. We understood the importance of giving moral leadership because the effects of climate change are not evenly distributed. Drought and flooding most affect the poorest of the poor, with the least resources to rebuild a home, replant a field or seek medical care for flood-borne illnesses. We recommitted ourselves to advocate for improved stewardship of God’s creation.
We heard powerful testimonies of the church’s engagement in reconciliation in a number of places, particularly by those torn apart by apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and civil wars, historic and on-going: in places such as South Sudan, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We pledged solidarity with each other in this sacrificial and often costly ministry.
We are committed to mediating in situations of violent conflict; ministering to the victims of war, including refugees; upholding indigenous rights; supporting the victims of sexual and domestic violence; and maintaining a faithful presence in situations of extreme persecution and terror. We discussed the role of reconciliation at every level, from personal relationships, to communal, societal and with the rest of creation, including care for the environment. Reconciliation is at the heart of the Gospel – it is because we are reconciled to God in Christ that all are given the message and ministry of reconciliation.
We recognised the vital role of all spouses in supporting bishops and archbishops, and particularly the importance of women placed in front line roles because of the offices held by their husbands. We appreciated the leadership and initiative of Mrs Caroline Welby and others in supporting women in such situations.
We heard of the plight of Indigenous Peoples, resulting from government policies of forced assimilation associated with colonial expansion. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission that addressed this history in Canada grounded its report and calls to action on the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We reaffirmed our commitment to encourage all governments to support the UN Declaration.
We recognised God’s call for justice and dignity for all humanity and raised with profound concern the desperate plight of millions of people facing hunger. We are committed to support actions which end hunger, promote sustainable agriculture and address the root causes of food insecurity.
We grieved for the 65 million refugees and internally displaced people forcibly uprooted by conflict, persecution and violence; the nearly 20 million displaced by natural disasters; and the millions of vulnerable migrants. We committed ourselves to respond with others to ensure protection, meet immediate need, and address underlying causes.
We heard about the suffering of 40 million victims of modern slavery and human trafficking – a crime against humanity which profits from the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable individuals. We committed ourselves to address this issue in ourb countries and across the globe.
We discussed freedom of religion and belief and heard about particular challenges faced in some Provinces. We endorsed the need to ensure that provisions relating to the freedom of religion are included and upheld in national constitutions, working with ecumenical and interfaith partners, where appropriate.
We heard of issues arising from living alongside those of other faiths; a painful daily reality in many Provinces. We commit to seeking ways to develop better understanding on the path to peaceful co-existence. We are excited at the prospect of the Anglican Inter Faith Commission working in this area.
We were deeply grateful to the staff of the Anglican Communion Office, and especially the Secretary General, to the staff at Lambeth Palace and at Church House, Westminster. We are especially grateful for the warm welcome, generous hospitality and kindness offered by the Dean of Canterbury and all at the Cathedral: their contribution was very important in setting the mood of the meeting in prayer and mutual listening. We also thank the Community of St Anselm for their prayer, help and support.
We leave enriched by the communion we share and strengthened by the faithful witness of Anglicans everywhere. We deeply appreciate the prayers of many throughout the world over our time together.
Canterbury
6 October 2017
Sermon preached by John Riches – 27 August 2017
Sermon preached on 20 August 2017 by Kelvin Holdsworth
Sermon preached on 6 August 2017 by Kelvin Holdsworth
Sermon preached by Kelvin Holdsworth on 30 July 2017
Sermon preached on 23 July 2017 by Cedric Blakey
Weddings Q and A
Why get married in church?
People have been coming to Church to mark the most significant events in their lives for generations. We’ve got a lot of practice at doing weddings well.
Why get married in St Mary’s?
People get married here for all kinds of reasons. For some people its because they are local, for others its because they belong to the congregation, for others its because they know about the good music on offer and for others its because this is one of the few churches in Scotland to have real bells. Most people coming into St Mary’s Cathedral comment on how stunningly beautiful the building is.
Do I have to be a church member to get married in St Mary’s?
No, but if you want to talk about it one of the clergy would be happy to talk to you about this.
Are you more married if you get married in Church than in a Registry Office?
No
I’ve been married before, can I still get married in Church?
The Scottish Episcopal Church marries a lot of people who are doing this for the second time around. The clergy can agree to marry people in that situation with their bishop’s permission. The important thing to do is to talk to one of the clergy about this. Clergy at St Mary’s will not agree to perform a marriage or bless a civil partnership if doing so would lead to a scandal, for example, if you have children from a previous relationship whom you are not supporting financially.
Will getting married in Church save me from dealing with the Registrar?
No – everyone who gets married in Scotland has to produce a Marriage Schedule from a Registrar. The Registrar will make a charge for providing this.
Can you read my “banns”, I’m getting married in England?
No – banns have no validity in law in ay Scottish Episcopal Church. Contact the vicar in England to ask for a different procedure. (Hint – ask whether a Special Licence would be appropriate).
I can’t afford a big Church wedding, what should I do?
There is no reason for a Church wedding to be any more expensive than any other sort of wedding.
Can we book any particular date?
You need to speak to our Wedding Organiser about dates. Try to sort out the date you want with St Mary’s before booking a reception.
Can we be married on any day of the year?
No, you have to fit in with what’s going on in St Mary’s. We are a busy church and the clergy are sometimes away on holidays. We don’t usually conduct weddings in Lent, the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter each year.
Can I have the full works – bells, organ, choir and horse drawn carriage?
You’ll have to provide the horse and carriage yourself but we can supply the rest. Remember though that there are charges for all these things which are applied separately.
Why do you do the same service for everyone? Can’t we have something more special to us?
We don’t do the same thing for everyone. Indeed, weddings in Scottish Episcopal Churches allow couples to make lots of choices themselves so that they get a wedding tailor made for themselves. You can read the Marriage Liturgy online here.
We are living together, why can’t we get married in church?
You can. Most of the weddings that take place today, including those conducted in St Mary’s are of couples who are living together.
…..but we have children – the priest will never agree to us being married…..
Think again!
Can we be married in St Mary’s if one partner is a Roman Catholic and the other Protestant?
Yes, but it would be appropriate for the Catholic partner to speak to their priest first. There are a number of couples who belong to St Mary’s where one or other of them comes from a Roman Catholic background. If you would like to speak to someone who has that experience, it would be easy to arrange a chat about it.
Can I get married in any colour?
Yes
Can one of your priests come to a hotel/golf course/mountaintop to do the service?
Not without the permission of the local Bishop. Generally speaking, we operate in the church which is a fabulous setting for a wedding. If you are looking for someone to officiate at a wedding that needs to take place in a hospital or hospice, then please get in touch as soon as you can.
We have decided to get married abroad but would like a Church blessing. Is this possible?
Yes.
Can our own pastor/priest/minister/celebrant marry us in St Mary’s?
People who are not licensed clergy here can only take services in St Mary’s Cathedral with permission of the Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway and also that of the Provost of St Mary’s. If the person is in good standing with an Anglican diocese then it is unlikely that they would be refused permission. More details are likely to need to be discussed regarding clergy from other denominations. It may be that the bishop will recommend having a local member of the clergy take the service and ask the other person to take part in it. Scots Law prevents non-religious celebrants from conducting weddings in St Mary’s.
Are your priests married or celibate – how do they know what this feels like?
Clergy in the Scottish Episcopal Church can get married or enter into a Civil Partnership if they want to, so some are single and some have been through all this themselves. Most clergy have a lot of experience and expertise in marrying people. They can make helpful suggestions and try to help you work our what will work for you on the big day and beyond.